As Eyesight Worsens, Seeing Things That Aren’t There

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 | by Pat's Picks

The Detroit Free-Press says besides the general wear-and-tear of aging, our eyes face another threat as we enter old age: seeing things that aren’t there. It’s called Charles Bonnet Syndrome and affects 20 to 40 percent of the 25 million Americans who suffer from age-related vision loss, percentages that experts say could soar as baby boomers get older. Those who suffer from the condition see anything from people who aren’t there to shapes that aren’t either. There’s currently no cure for the condition, which tends to go away after a year or two. Although it can be disconcerting, experts say once people come to terms with the fact that it’s not a mental issue, they learn to live with it. Because so little is know about the syndrome, patients are often erroneously prescribed anti-psychotics. Explains an ophthalmologist: “It rarely needs treatment; it mostly needs reassurance.” 

More about Charles Bonnet Syndrome via Wikipedia